Test light and socket therefor



Jan- 1, 1952 C. R. LWIS 2,581,116

TEST LIGHT AND SOCKET THEREFOR Filed May ,7; 1948 gmac/Wto@ nL/RTNEY RLEw/s Patented Jan. 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TEST LIGHT AND SOCKET THEREFOR Courtney R. Lewis, Mount Holly, Ark. Application May '7, 1948, Serial No. 25,633

1 Claim. l

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in test lights and sockets therefor and is designed to provide a device having a signal lamp for use in testing electrical circuits. The particularly novel and useful features of my improved device are the socket for the lamp, the casing in which the socket is provided and the metallic probe connected with the lamp circuit.

While I have illustrated in the drawing and have hereinafter fully described one specic embodiment of my invention, it is to be distinctly understood that I do not consider by invention to be limited to said specic embodiment but refer for its scope to the claim appended hereto.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved device.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the device showing the lamp socket, the lamp and cap being removed.

As shown in the drawing, my improved device has a cylindrical casing I in which is seated a metallic shell 2 bearing on a shoulder 3 on the inner wall of the case I. The shell 2 has, at its end bearing on the shoulder 3, an inwardly turned flange 4 on which is seated an insulated,

resilient plate 5 through which passes an electrode 6 having an upset head B-a. seated on the plate 5 interiorly of the shell 2. The case I has its end I a closed by a suitable cap threaded therein, and having a suitable insulated gasket 8 through which passes the electrode 6 having a finely pointed terminal probe B-b. The shell 2 has suitable bayonet-latch slots 9 in which are received the lugs I of the lamp L, the tang II of the lamp L being brought into press contact with the head I-a when the lamp L is mounted in the shell 2. The case I has on its end I-b a peripheral ange I2 in which is threaded a tubular cap I 3 having a. suitable resilient, water-proof gasket I Il clamped between case I and cap I3 when cap I3 is set up on case I. The cap I3 has an inner peripheral flange I carrying a suitable resilient, water-proof gasket I6 which bears against the bulb I'I of the lamp L when the cap I3 is set up on the case I. v

The shell 2 has connected thereto a suitable insulated electric wire I8 which passes out of the case I through a suitable port I9 and is provided on its outer end with a suitable clamp 20.

From the foregoing description of the detalls of construction of my improved device, its use and operation will be obvious. To assemble the device, the cap 'I is mounted on the case I, the gasket 8 mounted in cap 1. The electrode 6 is mounted in the gasket 8. The shell 2 is mounted in case I, the plate 5 slipped over the end of the electrodes 6 is seated on flange 4. The end of the electrode E projecting through plate 5 is then upset to form the head 6-a. The lamp L is mounted in shell 2 and turned to lock lugs II) in 2 slots 9. The cap I3 is then screwed on the end I-b of the case I until the gaskets I4 and I6 are clamped to produce water-tight seals. It is to be understood that the parts are so designed that when the lamp L is seated in the shell 2, the tang II bearing on the plate S-a slightly compresses the resilient plate 5 to eiect a tight joint for suitable electrical contact between the lamp L and the electrode 6. It is obvious that the gaskets I and I5 effecting a Water-tight seal protect the lamp L and the electrical circuit of the device.

When the clamp 20 is applied to a portion of a circuit to be tested, the probe -b may be pressed through insulation to test various parts of the circuit, contact of the probe 6-b with a hot wire causing the lamp L to glow.

Having described my invention, what I claim 1s:

In a test light, the combination of a hollow casing having an inner peripheral shoulder; an insulated gasket mounted in said casing; a metallic cylindrical shell mounted in said casing and having a peripheral ange seated on said shoulder; a resilient insulated plate seated on said flange in said shell and having an orifice, said gasket, said flange and said orice being co-axial; an electrode passing through said orifice, said flange and said gasket and having a probe on its end exterior said casing and a head seated on said plate in said shell; an electric lamp in said shell and having a pair of electric leads; a slotand-pin connection between said lamp and said shell to effect press electric contact of s aid head with one of said leads and electric contact of said shell with the other of said leads; a tubular cap threaded in said casing adjacent said shell and encircling said lamp, and having an inner peripheral flange; a resilient gasket carried by said cap flange and bearing against said lamp when said cap is set up in said casing; and an electric wire connected to said shell and leading from said casing.

COURTNEY R. LEWIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS .Number Name Date 1,395,819 Guy Nov. 1, 1921 1,707,051 Colosoff Mar. 26, 1929 2,195,189 Sauer Mar. 26, 1940 2,212,307 Smida Aug. 20, 1940 2,458,628 Okun Jan. 11, 1949 v FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 259,275 Great Britain Sept. 20, 1926 129,628 Switzerland Nov. 29, 1927 

